Higher Education Alumnus Don W. Locke (Ed.D. 68) was recently named Professor and Dean Emeritus at Mississippi College.

Locke, who retired in 2017, served as Dean at the MC School of Education for over 19 years after positions at Mississippi State University and the University of Louisiana at Monroe. “My career focus has been developing educational curricula and programs in the areas of counseling and education,” Locke said.  “Emeritus status is the ‘icing on the cake’ when one has spent a significant part of their academic career in a position at an institution and that institution rewards the efforts put forth over the years. Emeritus maintains a positive link to a university and makes me proud to have been a part of it for many years.”

During Locke’s tenure as MC education dean, the university established the doctorate in educational leadership. The MC School of Education is also home to an innovative doctorate in professional counseling as well as a graduate degree in dyslexia therapy.

Locke earned his undergraduate degree and his Master of Education in counseling from Mississippi College, and also holds a doctorate in higher education from the University of Mississippi. He is a licensed professional counselor and is past president of several professional counseling and teaching organizations, including the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, the American Counseling Association, and the Mississippi Association for Colleges of Teacher Education.